General Information about travelling in Tanzania

Visiting a new country can be daunting. We have tried to anticipate and answer some of your questions, but there may be some we failed to spot. Take a browse through this website and the links below and if we can help further, do please contact us or write us a message.

 Rulges and Regulations in Reserves and Parks

• You are not allowed to drive off road.
• Keep to main roads and tracks.
• Visitors are allowed on the roads from 06:00 to 19:00. You are not allowed out of your vehicle.
• Do not discard litter in.
• Keep your rubbish with you, then dispose of it responsibly in your place of accommodation.
• Do not harass wildlife, and avoid overcrowding them.
• You are not permitted to remove or collect anything from the protected areas.

Arrival and departure

There are no restrictions on entering Tanzania, but you are likely to need a visa (this is certainly true for British and US visitors). If you plan to purchase your visa at the airport or border, this will cost around USD 50/person (USD 100/person for US citizens). A short arrival form is completed when entering the country but no passport photos or documentation other than your passport are needed. Please ensure your passport is valid for at least six months from the date of entry. Also, you will need at least one blank page in your passport (the back page does not count).

Shopping

You will find that East Africa has a wealth of fascinating curio shops, clothes stores and shops specializing in Africana. Nearly every main shop in the city centres and in hotels/lodges will accept major credit cards - though not necessarily travellers cheques.

Business and Shopping hours

Usual business hours throughout East Africa are 08:30 to 12:30 and from 14:00 to 17:30 Monday to Friday and 08:30 to 12:30 on Saturday. Banks open until 15:00 Monday to Friday and from 09:00 to 12:30 on Saturday. Banks are not open on Sunday.

Currency and Credit Cards

The unit of currency is the Tanzanian shilling, divided into 100 cents. Notes are available in the denominations of Shs. 1000/=, Shs. 500/=, Shs. 200/=, Shs. 100/= and Shs. 50/=. Coins are available in denominations of Shs. 20/=, 10/=, Shs. 5/=, Shs. 1/= and Shs. =/50. Visitors may import an unlimited amount of foreign exchange. Only banks, hotels and lodges are authorized dealers to change money. Credit cards are accepted by some, but not all, hotels, and by more up-market shops in urban areas. ATMs are only available in major cities. It is a good idea to carry a supply of shillings to buy local goods, tip staff and supplement a stock of US dollars (not needed at Bushtops, but helpful if you are travelling elsewhere within Tanzania). Travellers Cheques are not a great idea - many people simply don't use or recognise them.

A few helpful hints

Please show respect for local laws and customs, and the sensitivities of your host country. Remember for religious reasons, many people consider scanty dress a discourtesy (restrict wearing of swimsuits and beachwear to the swimming pools and beaches) - this applies particularly to coastal areas. Do not leave valuables, including cameras and binoculars, anywhere. Make use of hotel safes as much us possible. Try not to make a flagrant display of wealth - your normal holiday spending money amounts to a small fortune to most local people. When on safari never get out of your vehicle, unless you are told it is safe to do so. Do not attempt to go for walks when staying in game lodges.

Photography

Please do not photograph the president, police, soldiers, military installations, prisons, prisoners and airports. Please always enlist the co-operation of your subject before photographing strangers as people do not like to be regarded as exhibits and many may not understand that your photos are merely a personal record of your trip. Your driver/guide will be able to advise you on this.

Baggage

Remember that if you are travelling by small charter aircraft, only one suitcase or soft bag of not more than 15 kg may be carried.

Languages

Most people in Tanzania will speak Swahili, a mixture of African, English and Arabic influences) plus English, in addition to a tribal language.  Tanzania is made up of an estimated 120 linguistic groups none of which is greater than ten percent of the total population. The largest linguistic group in Tanzania is the Sukuma that live in the Lake Victoria area. Other large groups are the Hehe of Iringa, the Gogo of Dodoma, the Chagga of Kilimanjaro and the Nyamwezi of Tabora.

Swahili is the most widely understood language in Africa after Arabic. Swahili has over 50 million speakers and is spoken not only in Tanzania, but also Kenya, Uganda, eastern Zaire and Rwanda. Swahili originated along the east African coast of Southern Somalia, Kenya, Tanzania, Northern Mozambique and on the islands of Lamu, Zanzibar and Pemba. Swahili has only 2 million native speakers and most Swahili speakers speak two or more languages. Although the first language of most Tanzanians is that of their ethnic group, all Tanzanians are taught Swahili in grade school. Julius Nyerere, Tanzania's first president, implemented this policy early in his rule in order to unite Tanzanians and enable them to communicate with each other.

Weather and Clothes

Choose your clothes in accordance with the season. Be prepared for cool evenings at higher altitudes. On safari try to wear neutral colours such as green, beige and khaki, so not to startle the game. A hat and a pair of sunglasses are advisable for protection against the sun. Laundry can be done at most lodges (all part of the service at Bushtops). Wear light comfortable shoes unless you are planning a walking safari, in which case make sure you have something more sturdy, with ankle support.

Electricity supply

Both the mains and generated (in lodges and camps) supplies of electricity are 240 volts / 50 cycles. Most large hotels in the city and some parks will have an electric razor point for 110 volts / 60 cycles. Tanzania Tanzanian outlets accommodate three prong UK style plugs. Phone calls are expensive and unreliable (approximately US $2.00 per minute to the US and Europe). The Internet can be accessed from Dar es Salaam, Arusha, Zanzibar, and Moshi. The connections are relatively fast and cheap ($1.00 per hour) and there are many internet cafes in each location. Within Bushtops we provide free wifi access and adaptors, should you need to charge or run appliances in your tent.